Friday, June 18, 2021

6.18.2021 - Blush

 Blush by Jamie Brenner

Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for gifting me a copy of this wonderful book by Jamie Brenner - a 5 star summer must read!

Three generations of Hollander women find themselves at the family winery for a summer that could end up being the last for the family; a sale is rumored.  Vivian, the matriarch, relinquished control over running the winery to her husband, Leonard, while she became a figurehead for the winery's events while raising the children.  Vivian is afraid the sale might reveal a secret she has kept for decades and one which could ruin her marriage.  Their daughter, Leah, grew up in the fields and wanted nothing more than to help run the winery; however, Leonard made it clear she would not have a spot because she was a woman.  Leah's daughter, Sadie, is in her final year of college and struggling to write her thesis.    These women come together at the winery for what could be their last there as a family, each struggling with their own issues.  When Sadie finds her grandmother's book club journals listing the books they read in the 1980s, the women start reading these novels together, each looking at them with their own perspective.

I absolutely adored this book!  I loved each of the women characters as they grew together to embrace their real selves and take their power back.  The best part was the nostalgic look back at the so-called "trashy" novels of the 1980s that I devoured and still probably have in boxes somewhere.  It was so interesting to see each of the generation's new takes on the novels as they have their own book club to talk about the women in the novels.   Add an amazing lesson in wine making and cheese and you have the perfect book to read on a summer patio - with a glass of rose´ of course!

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